Corporate travel firm in Boston expansion

The Herald

A SCOTTISH corporate travel management firm has opened its first international office in the US in a move that will create at least eight jobs.

Equilibrium Travel Management has established a presence in Boston, Massachusetts, as it looks to expand less than a year after it was founded.

The Dunfermline business is hoping to capitalize on Boston's reputation as a global centre for sectors such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, education and financial services.

The office is expected to have eight people working there by the end of September with more staff planned for 2013.

Franc Jeffrey, who set up Equilibrium with chief operating officer Duncan Sanders and other senior travel executives, said: "It is a real coup for us to be able to establish ourselves in the US at such an early stage in our business – testament to the hard work our team has put in during the past nine months.

"It has always been a great ambition of mine for EQ to operate in the US, and we have spent a significant amount of time and investment in ensuring our Boston office is open and ready for business."

Earlier this summer Equilibrium, which has eight UK staff with plans to add more in the near future, opened an office at Lintmill, Banffshire, to cater to the marine and oil and gas sector. It also has a specialist meetings and events arm plus a service for pharmaceutical firms organising trips to clinical trials.

Mr Jeffrey said he expects the business to be profitable in its first full year of trading, and that Equilibrium's flat fee policy allows it to work flexibly with each client.

The UK business travel market is estimated to be worth around £25 billion annually.